Thermostat for journal-bearings, &amp;c.



PATENTED DEG. 25, 1906.

A P. A. VATH. THERMOSTAT'POR JGURNAL BBARHQGS, aw.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1904 1 l qu...

` Unirnn sfirn'rns 'PATENT orrron.

FRANK Avviare., or ',oniciieo,iitniivois.

i THERMOSTAT v -on v.JOURNAL-BEAMNes., am*

nassen-1o.

Improvements, in Thermostats for Journalf Bearings or the Like; and l do hereby declare that the followingk is a Tull, clear, and

v exact description of the same, reference being hadi to Athe accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,

'which forms apart of this speciiication.

' This invention relates to means for detectj ing excess heat in journal-bearings.

y Heretofore much trouble and convenience. and great expense from injured bearings and' lost time have resulted from overheated 'journal-bearings due to friction. This expense and `inconvenience can easily be avoided if the tendency to heat is discovered in due time. Ordinarily, however, though the utmost vigilance is exercised the first notice to the Oilers or, engineers is the odor of the burning' oil or the failure of some part'of the machine to operate.

The object of this invention is to afford automatic means whereby the tendency of one or any number of the journal-bearings to overheat is instantly announced to the oper-` ator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cheap and simple deviceic'apable of ready adjustment to diflerent degrees of heat and capable of being attached to any journalbearing or other device likely to become heated with but-slight cost.

The invention consists in the matters-hereinafter described, and more Tully pointed out and' deiiiied in the appended claims.

In the drawing, the figure is a transverse vertical section of a journal and bearing therefor provided with a device embodying my invention, parts of which are shown diagrammatically and others in elevation.

As shown in said drawing, A represents a journal and A a bearing-box of any desired construction and the capV A2 of which, asl shown, is provided in the top thereof or at any convenient point with a threaded seat in which is secured va thermostat. Said thermostat, as shown, comprises a tube B, of any desired material, conveniently of metal, c ut to the desired length and threaded at its' lower end to engage in said seat in the'cap A? and is tapped atits lower end to receive the screw-plug a. Fitting tightly in said tube B Specification of Letters Patent.

Yatented Dec. 25, 1906. i

Application filed September 19, 1904. Serial No. 225.149.

and extending close to the screw-plug is a sleeve of any suitable insulating material c', having a small central bore therethrough and having each of its ends countersunk to aord a cup-like depression, that at the lower end of the sleeve together with the lower end of the tube above the screw-plug a alording a receptacle C, adapted to be iilled with mercury, alcohol, or other' material which expands uniformly when heated and which when heated ills the bore in said sleeve. upper endof said tube B is an adjustable electrical conductor comprising a metallic wire d', which fits' closely in and extends below aninsulatingcovering D, of any suitable kind. which fits in the upper end the tube B and is held in place by means of a set-screw d, and, if desired, may be graduated in degrees on its outer side to enable the device to be set for the maximum temperature permissible before alarm. The conductor d( extends be- `iow its'insulation andv into thebore of saidv sleeve c and is of a length to permit a suicient degree of adjustment in saidtube to indicate the dangerous or warning temperatures. To the outer end of said conductor is engaged a lead conductor-wire E, which ex-' tends to an annunciator E', of any desired type, located at. the engine-room or any point where it lcan be conveniently observed by an operator. Said annunciator is provided with a bell e or other means aording an au- -dible signal as well as visible signals, and a .battery E2 is connected therewith by means of the lead-wire E3. The circuit is completed by grounding one of the battery-conductors or by connecting back with the machine, as preferred.

The operation 1s as follows: The thermostats are engaged u on the bearings at any convenient or desira )le points and with the bulb extending into some metallic part ofthe bearing, and each is quickly influenced by l change of .temperature in its bearing. The

core or sleeve c, of insulating material, prevents any external. temperature aiiecting the thermostat. i Vhen the temperature of the bearing becomes high enough to expand the mercury or otherexpansible matter within the receptacle C to a point Where it contacts Withthe conductor d', a circuit with the battery is formed which operates the annunciator, enabling the operator to know instantly by inspection the endangered bearing.

While I have shown the thermostat carried on the journal-cap A2, it is obvious that it Seated in the y ITOO l machinery or vehicles, the rolling-stock of lrailroads, on steam and other vessels, and for many other purposes.

Inasmuch as i have described but one of many possible constructions embodying my invention, I do not purpose limiting this application otherwise than necessitatedby the prior art, as obviously many details of construction may bel varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a journal-bearing provided with an outwardlyopening seat thereinlof a tube engaged in said seat, a screw-plug itted in and closing the inner end of said tube, an insulator in said tube provided with a centralv longitudinal boro and cored at each end, an expansible fluid in the lower end of said insulator, a longitudinallyadjustable insulator in the outer end of said 5 tube, an electrical conductor therein projecting inwardly into said cored insulator, said cored upper end acting to guide the conductor into the central bore and means connected with said conductor actingto produce an alarm.

In a device of the class described the combination with a j ournal-bearing having a seat therein, of a tube engaged in said seat, a screw-plug in the lower end ofsaid tube, an axially-bored insulator in said tube having its ends countersunk one oiv which forms a guide to the bore7 a liquid containing chamber beneath said insulator, a conductor in the top of said tube7 means for adjusting said' conductor longitudinally in t-lie insulator and an annunciator electrically connected with said conductor.

In testimony whereof I-'liave hereunto subn scribed my naine in the'presenco of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. VATH. VVit-nesses C. W. HILLS, L. C. GAVITT. 

